
\^\2 



REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF 
THE EUROPEAN WAR 



From November 1, 1917, to the Signing of the 
Armistice, November 11, 1918. 



Issued By 

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE DIVISION 
GENERAL STAFF 

War Department, Washington, D. C. 



Printed by Military Intelligence Division, General Staff. 



8 

MAY 



I ■ 1919 









INTRODUCTION 

This Review of the Progress of the European War from 
November, 1917 to the signing of the armistice with Germany on 
November 11, 1918, was prepared for the Annual Report of the 
Secretary of War. It presents in brief outline the principal 
phases in the military situation during this period. 

The terms of the Armistice and Maps illustrating military 
operations in various theatres are appended. 

By command of Brigadier- General Churchill : 

Wm. Kay Wallace, 

Captain, U. S. Army. 



REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN WAR 

FROM NOVEMBER 1, 1917, 

TO THE SIGNING OF THE ARMISTICE, NOVEMBER II, 1918 

The military position of the Allies in the Autumn of 1917, was as a whole an unfavorable 
one. The overthrow of the Kerensky Government, the accession to power of the Bolshevists, 
resulting in the elimination of Russia as an active factor in the war ; the defeat of the Italians 
by the Austro-German forces; the successful German counter-offensive in the West which 
deprived the British of the fruits of their brilliant victory in front of Cambrai, gave the enemy 
renewed hope of winning a decision in the field. 

The German High Command realized that if victory was to be attained it must be won by 
the Spring or early Summer of 1918, before the forces, which the United States was training, 
coidd make themselves felt. 

With this in view, the German army of occupation in Russia was combed of its best material 
until by the middle of March, German strength in the West totalled 190 picked divisions. 
Sixty-five of these were massed as an army of manoeuvre in front of the British ; 75 in front of 
the French, and the remaining 30 were held in reserve. Additional divisions were en route 
for the Western Theatre ready to take up their places when needed. 

While pushing these preparations the Germans were not neglecting their interests in the 
East. Taking advantage of the break-down of the social order in Russia, the forces of the 
Central Powers were able to make rapid headway, and by the end of March, 1918, they had 
overrun 120,000 square miles of additional territory. 

German plans of domination in Central En rope had been expanded, and the enemy was now 
preparing to absorb Central Asia. 

Finland, the Baltic Provinces, parts of Great Russia, the Ukraine, the Caucasus, the Trans- 
Caucasus, Persia, Turkestan to the confines of India, had been penetrated and were potentially 
under the control of the enemy. 

Before opening the offensive in the West, the German High Command felt confident that 
its control in the East was secure, and that by devoting its full attention to the Western Theatre 
the war would be brought to a victorious end. 

The enemy frankly advertised his purpose and made his plans with great deliberation 
and minute care. 

More than three months were taken up in preparing for the battle. 

The great offensive was, after repeated postponements, launched on March 21st. 

The British and French Armies in turn staggered under the furious assaults which were 
driven in rapid succession. During the ensuing three months the enemy could proclaim that 
great areas of territory had been conquered, vast numbers of prisoners had been taken, and 
huge stores of material captured. 

The Allies gave way, fighting stubbornly. Rear guard actions, holding on in the face of 
vastly superior numbers, broke the impact of each succeeding blow. 

Under the stress of the gravity of the situation, unity of command under Marshal Foeh 
was brought about. This meant that the Allied forces operating in the West were fused into 
one great army. The flexibility of manoeuvre and reserve power which were thereby attained 
contributed largely in warding off defeat. 



General Pershing placed his forces unreservedly at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief. 
Whatever troops the United States had available were thrown into battle and gave good 
account of themselves. 

The defense of the river-bank at Chateau- Thierry, by one of our machine gun units, the 
operations of our 2nd Division in Belleau Woods, the capture of Cantigny, though in them- 
selves minor actions, when considered in connection with the operations which were in progress, 
were of a decisive character. They were full of promise as to what our men newly trained in 
the art of war would be able to do. 

The German drive reached its maximum penetration when the Marne was crossed. The 
impetus of the enemy's assault had spent itself. 

Then came the brilliant counter-offensive of the Allies under Marshal Foch. July 18th, 
marks the turning point in the campaign. Henceforth the initiative was to be ours. During 
the ensuing weeks, the enemy was driven out of the territory which he had captured. Crush- 
ing defeats, and heavy losses of men and materiel shook the German military organization to 
its foundation. 

We must acknowledge the skilful manoeuvring of armies, displayed by the German com- 
manders, which serves to set in bolder relief the carefully-coordinated, brilliantly-planned 
operations executed under the guidance of Marshal Foch. The retreating enemy was incessantly 
harassed. His lines of defense crumbled under the unremitting blows, resulting in the final 
dislodging of German hold on a great part of Northern France and Belgium. 

On November 1st the Allies opened the drive which was to end the war. 

The British advanced eastward in the vicinity of Valenciennes towards Mons and Mau- 
beuge, while the French and Americans pushed east and north toward Mezieres, Hirson and 
Sedan, their objectives being the principal German lines of communication, and the pivotal 
positions upon which the enemy had planned to swing his line back to his own frontier. 

The advance from the first was rapid, and the speed was greatly accelerated during the 
final days. The Maubeuge-Sedan railroad was brought within range of the Allied guns and 
cut in several places. 

American units were on the outskirts of Sedan on November 6th. The French took Hirson 
on November 9th, and the British occupied Maubeuge on the same day. 

The retreat of the enemy south of the Ardennes had been cut off. His lines of com- 
munication south of Maubeuge had been disrupted, and the only path of retreat lay between the 
Sambre and the Meuse through the difficult terrain of the Ardennes. 

Under these circumstance the refusal to accept the ai'mistice conditions dictated by the 
Allies and the United States, would have entailed certain disaster. 

Compelled by military necessity, the parliamentaires of Germany affixed their signature 
to the armistice laid down by the Allied Supreme Command, on November 11th at 5 a. m. 

At the present writing the Allied armies are on the Danube and the evacuation of the 
Balkans by the forces of the Central Empires is being completed. Italian and Serb troops 
are re-occupying Albania and Montenegro. 

In other theatres of the war, similar successful operations were in progress. After a long 
period of immobility in the Balkans, when the Allied forces had begun to drive forward in 
September, 1918, the surrender of Bulgaria made it possible to advance in this area at a very 
rapid rate. 



In Syria, British forces assisted by French, and Italian contingents and independent 
Arab units were busy hammering the Turks. Jerusalem fell into British hands in December of 
last year. Since then progress has been steady. The defeat of the German-led Turkish armies in 
front of Jaffa, resulted in the occupation, in rapid succession during October, 1918, of Damascus, 
Beirut, Tripoli, Horns and Aleppo. 

Compelled by the stress of circumstances to muster all available strength in the West, the 
enemy was forced to withdraw all his divisions from abroad. 

German domination in Russia and Central Asia is rapidly vanishing. 

Throughout the dark period of distress in Russia, the cause of the Allies has been steadily 
kept alive by the brave bands of Czecho-Slovak troops, which have, in the face of overwhelm- 
ing difficulties, kept open the line of communication along the Trans-SiberianRailway, and 
formed the rallying point of Allied influence in Russia. 

During the past year Japan has played a more active part in the war. In agreement with 
ourselves, an expedition, in which a number of our forces took part, landed at Vladivostok 
during August and September, and proceeded to clear the Trans-Baikal and Amur regions 
of anti-Ally elements, thus assisting the efforts of the Czecho-Slovaks to maintain communica- 
tion with the outside world. 

A year ago the United States had only a few scattered divisions in the quiet sectors of 
the Western Front. Today over two million men are in France under the immediate command 
of General Pershing. Another important expeditionary force is in Siberia under the command 
of Major-General Graves. American troops are operating in conjunction with the Italians, and 
a small American contingent is helping to maintain order in the Archangel-Murman Area. 

The war has been brought to a victorious close. 

The armies of occupation of the Allies and of the United States are about to advance into 
German territory. When the conditions of the armistice are complied with, Germany will be 
powerless to resume offensive operations. 



The following is a brief summary of the principal phases of the combat situation in the 
various theatres of war since November 1, 1917 : 

WESTERN FRONT 

The chief engagement of the Autumn of 1917, on the British Front took place on November 
20th, when, without artillery preparation, but assisted by the skilful tactical use of numer- 
ous "tanks," British infantry attacked on a front of 10 miles, and penetrated to a depth of 5 
miles, in front of Cambrai. 

Before the British had improved or consolidated their positions, a very vigorous counter- 
attack drove them from a large part of this newly won territory. 

A detachment of United States Engineers, engaged in rebuilding a railroad back of the line, 
had the honor of helping to repulse the counter-drive. This may be cited as the first active 



fighting iu which American troops took part, although certain units had been in action in the 
quiet sectors of the Vosges toward the end of October. 

The creation of the Supreme "War Council at Versailles on November 10th, marked the first 
definite step towards unity of command. 

The early weeks of 1918 were spent by the Allies in improving their positions. The 
enemy was openly boasting that with the assistance of reinforments arriving from Russia he 
would sweep the British into the sea, overwhelm the French, enter Paris and end the war. 

On March 21st, the Germans opened the offensive. The point of attack was between St. 
Quentin and Marcoing, where the British had recently taken over certain sectors hitherto held 
by the French. The evident aim of this effort was to drive a wedge between the Franco-British 
forces and separate the two armies, after which, it was believed, it would not be difficult to 
defeat them separately. 

If the British right wing should hold firm, the direction of the attack could be changed 
to the southwest, and by throwing back the French left, an advance could be made on Paris 
down the valley of the Oise. Under the weight of the attack, the British gave way, and the 
French were forced to extend their front in order to retain contact. By the evening of the 
second day of the offensive, Ham and Peronne had fallen. The French were resisting on 
the southern part of the line but there were no British effectives to take the place of their 
5th Army which had suffered heavily. 

On the evening of March 25th, the enemy was already at the outskirts of Albert. His 
gigantic effort to make progress down the Oise was without avail. The French not only held 
on, but constantly extended their line northward. By the 28th, the first phase of the attack 
was over; Chauny, Noyon, Montdidier and Albert had been lost. Further efforts of the enemy 
resulted iu slight gains. By the 5th of April, the forward thrust in this sector had reached its 
high-water mark. The Germans were within 10 miles of Amiens, and had interrupted direct 
rail communication between Paris and the Channel ports. 

The President, realizing the seriousness of the situation, had ordered General Pershing 
to place his forces, amounting to about 343,000 men, at the disposal of the French. This 
action led the British, Belgians and Portuguese to accept the French Chief of Staff, General 
Foch, as Supreme Commander of all of the Allied forces. 

On the 9th of April, the Germans renewed the assault and launched a double attack. 
To the west of Laon, the French were forced back beyond Couey, but their front remained 
unbroken. The heaviest blow was aimed at the Portuguese who held the sector between 
Givenchy and Bois Grenier where they had one division in line, flanked on either side by British 
Divisions. The Portuguese were overwhelmed, and on the first day of the attack, on a front of 
9 miles, the enemy advanced 6,000 yards. 

Extremely heavy fighting took place on the following days. On the 13th, the Germans 
were m the Foret de Nieppe and threatened Hazebrouck. The pivots of the salient at Givenchy 
and Ypres, were however, holding firm, so that it became necessary for the enemy, if he was 
to make further progress, to capture the relatively high hills southwest of Ypres. Then followed 
days of furious fighting for these positions. Mont Kemmel fell on the 25th, Ypres became unten- 
able, and it was feared that the enemy would be able to advance along the coast at least as far 
as Dunkirk. 

By the end of April the enemy had 206 divisions in the West. Of these, 141 had been 
identified and engaged since the 21st of March. Thirty-five were on the Ypres front, and 



about 41 fresh divisions formed a reserve. The arrival of several unidentified Austrian divi- 
sions was reported iii Belgium and in Alsace. 

Throughout April, fighting of great intensity continued in the Somme region. Ypres and 
the terrain east of Amiens was the scene of furious encounters during the early part of May, 
but there was little change in the relative combat position. Enemy reserves were known to 
be massed behind the Somme area, though there were no indications of where the next blow 
would fall. 

On May 27th, two fresh offensives were launched against sectors held by the French. 

The one near Ypres was repulsed and the ground, yielded under the first impact, was 
regained by evening. The other, west of Rheims, was the more serious and proved to be the 
main attack. Along the front, extending from Bermerieourt to Leuilly, the enemy was able 
to reach the Aisne on the first day. On the second, Fismes was occupied. On the third day, 
Crecy-au-Mont and Soissons had fallen. The enemy was five miles south of the Vesle and had 
penetrated the northern outskirts of Rheims. 

On the 30th, parts of Rheims had been entered, Fere-en-Tardenois was passed and the 
following day the Marne was reached at Mont St. Pere, along a front as far east as Verneuil 
from whence the line ran to just north of Rheims. In the west, where the enemy had previously 
been unable to widen the salient, he now broke the hold of the French on their old line as 
far as south of Noyon. 

The Germans extended their gains along the western flank of the salient on June 1st, 
though on the opposite flank the French held their ground. 

Throughout the week the enemy continued to advance westward. During this period, the 
2nd United States Division took its place in this sector. 

On the 9th of the month, an attack by 20 divisions between Montdidier and Noyon was aimed 
at Compiegne and Paris. Ressons-sur-Matz fell and the enemy reached Vandelicourt. On 
the following day the attack was checked along the western flank of this new salient, but to 
the east the enemy advance continued down the Oise Valley. Our Second Division attacked in 
Belleau Woods, the point where the enemy was nearest Paris. This first attack netted a gain 
of more than 900 yards. Farther south at Bouresches our troops, heavily engaged, held their 
ground. 

On the 15th, the line ran from near Montdidier to a point six miles south of Noyon and 
thence about the same distance west of Soissons. From there it ran south to the edge of the 
Foret de Villers-Cotterets, Dammard, Bouresches to Chateau-Thierry and thence followed the 
Marne to Verneuil. 

During the latter part of the month there was intensely heavy fighting in the American 
sector north of Chateau-Thierry, but changes in the line were slight. This fortnight was also 
marked by enemy attacks on our sector in the Woevre, which were all repulsed with heavy 
losses. 

On the 15th of July, the Germans began what proved to be their final offensive, extending 
from Chateau-Thierry eastward as far as the Argonne. Its objective was, by the capture of the 
city and heights of Rheims and the Champagne positions, to cross the Marne and descend on 
Paris. 

In Champagne the attack was broken. West of Rheims the enemy was partially successful. 
He gained a footing on the Montagne de Reims, where he was opposed by British and Italian 
troops, and by the 16th, the enemy's line ran from Ste. Euphraise (southwest of Rheims) to the 



Marne at Chatillon where it crossed the river, and the left bank was held as far as Chateau- 
Thierry. Opposite Dormans the line extended four miles south of the Marne. 

Ever since the beginning of the German offensive in March, the transportation of the 
American forces to France had been pushed to the utmost. On April 1st, the number of 
troops which had arrived in France was 327,382 ; on May 1st, it was 432,021 ; on June 1st, the 
number had mounted to 664,776, and on the 1st of July, to 824,563. While many of these 
troops were still at training centers, extended sectors in the Vosges and Woevre were being 
taken over by our forces. Still others which had had experience in the line were available, together 
with rested French troops, as an army of manoeuvre. 

Marshal Foch, judging that the time was ripe, launched his counter-attack on July 18th, 
in the woods of Villers-Cotterets. Although the British and Italian troops on the eastern flank 
of the salient also took part, the principal gains were made by the French and the United 
States troops in the region from Soissons to Chateau-Thierry. The first day's advance of five 
miles towards Soissons, placed us on the heights dominating the railway. The evacuation of 
the territory by the enemy now became imperative. The Germans swung back so that by the 
21st, the south bank of the Marne was cleared. There was heavy fighting during the ensu- 
ing two weeks, and the Germans offered a constantly stiffening resistance, but by the 2nd 
of August, they had been driven north of the Vesle, and Soissons was in our hands. 

Three days later the line of the Aisne and the Vesle was reached from Soissons to Rheims, 
and the north banks of these rivers were held at several points. 

On the 8th of August, an attack, by the British, on the thinned hostile line east of Albert, 
and by the French east of Amiens, and another blow, by the French, between Montdidier 
and Noyon, hastened the retreat of the enemy. Continued pressure on the Vesle and an attack 
in Flanders prevented him from reinforcing his armies on the Somme. 

These tactics of simultaneous attack on various parts of the line, while on others sufficient 
pressure was maintained to prevent the transfer of reserves, were continued throughout Septem- 
ber. To use Marshal Foch's own expression he was "keeping the battle nourished." 

During the middle of September, American forces, assisted by French detachments, com- 
pletely reduced the St. Mihiel salient. The elimination of this salient, which had menaced 
eastern France for four years, relieved the pressure on Verdun, and made possible further 
advances north of that city. 

At the end of September, a new phase of the battle was entered upon when, on the 
29th, the attack became general along the entire front from Verdun to the North Sea. The 
last positions of the Hindenburg defenses were overrun, and the coast of Belgium to the 
Dutch border was reoccupied ; Cambrai, Lille, Roubaix, Bruges and other important centers were 
regained. 

On November 1st, the Allies resumed the offensive which was crowned with success at all 
points. A salient approximately 9 miles deep was thrust into the German line southwest of 
Ghent. Farther south the British took Valenciennes and advanced to Aulnoye. Simultane- 
ously, Franco-American forces attacked in the Argonne and cleared the forest. 

On November 6th, the Americans entered the outskirts of Sedan, and the British ad- 
vanced towards Mons and Maubeuge on the following day. The rate of Allied advance con- 
tinued to increase. The French occupied Hirson on November 9th and the British took Mau- 
beuge that day. Operations continued without interruption until November 11th at 11 a. m., 
when the armistice became effective. The Germans continued to fire until the last moment. 



ITALIAN FRONT 

The Italians were completely taken by surprise when the great German-Austrian attack 
was launched on the foggy night of October 23-24, 1917. The Italian troops of the 2nd Army, 
guarding the pass leading to Caporetto, were suddenly overwhelmed by a short but terrific 
bombardment, and German infantry poured through the gap. The Austrians were also success- 
ful at Tolmino. 

The Italian defense from Plezzo to Tolmino collapsed in 24 hours. On October 27th, the 
Germans entered Cividale. 

The Italian army was now forced to begin a prolonged and difficult retreat. The 3rd 
Army occupying the Bainsizza Plateau, Gorizia and the Carso was driven back. Gorizia was 
evacuated on October 28, and on the next day Udine, the Italian General Headquarters, was cap- 
tured. The 3rd Army, however, was able to retreat in good order, and save its artillery. 

The Italians were unable to make a stand on the Tagliamento. At Latisana, on the lower 
reaches of the river, the rear guard of the 2nd Army, consisting of 60,000 men, was cut off by the 
rapid German advance and surrendered. On November 5, the Austrian army under Boroevic, 
which was operating on their left, forced the passage of the Tagliamento near Pinzano. Three 
days later the Livenza was crossed. In the meantime, the Austrians attacked the Italians along 
the Trentino front. On November 10, Asiago was taken. 

During the ensuing six weeks the Austrians made numerous assaults upon the Italian 
lines on the Piave and on the Asiago Plateau, but the Italians were now able to hold their own, 
and the Austrian advance was checked. 

British and French troops were hurriedly sent to Italy's assistance, and on December 10, 
it was announced that they were on the firing line. 

The Austrians did not resume the offensive until their divisions in the East and Rumania 
had been transferred to the Italian theatre. 

After long and careful preparations throughout the Spring of 1918, on June 15 the offen- 
sive was opened. The Austrian plan was to achieve a break-through and reach the Venetian 
Plain. During the first days of the assault the Austrians succeeded in penetrating the Italian 
lines on the Asiago Plateau, on the Montello, and in crossing the Lower Piave for some distance. 
The Italians counter-attacked successfully, and by June 20th the situation was well in hand. On 
June 23rd, the Austrians were compelled to retreat across the Piave pursued by the Italians. 
The following day, the Italians restored the original battle line. On the 29th, they launched a 
counter-offensive which lasted until July 6th, during which, they recovered some strategic points 
on the Asiago Plateau, and extended their line to the new Piave. After this defeat of the 
Austrians, the situation on this front remained unchanged imtil the latter part of October, 1918. 

An offensive was planned by the Italians to begin on October 24th along the Piave, with a 
diversion on the Asiago Plateau. The high water of the Piave prevented the carrying out of 
this plan, but a successful attack on Mount Sisemol was launched by the French. On the next 
day, in spite of bad weather, the Italians, aided by the British, successfully attacked on the 
Grappa region between the Brenta and the Piave. On the 26th, although the Piave was still 
high, the Italians established bridgeheads across the river between Pederobba and the Grave 
Islands and crossed south of Pederobba, towards Sernaglia, and from Gozza and Roncadelle 
towards San Polo di Piave. The Austrians attempted a counter-attack but were driven back. 

As a result of the heavy pressure exerted along the entire front by the Italians, hostile 
resistance was overcome. 

9 



The Austrians were compelled to request an armistice. This was granted. 

When the armistice went into effect at 3 p. m. on November 4th, the Italian army was ad-. 
vaneing rapidly along the whole front and had reached a line which ran from Madola Pass (south 
of Bozen) Mezzolomardo — Fiera di Primiero — Agordo — Pieve di Cadore — Tolmezzo — Pontebba 
— Tolmino — Gorizia — Aquileia — Grado. 

The 14th British Corps, a French division and the 332nd U. S. Infantry cooperated with the 
Italians. 

Since the cessation of hostilities the Italians have been establishing themselves in the 
evacuated and conquered territory. Meran and Bozen have been captured. Triest has passed 
into Italian hands, and Capodistria and Pola have also been captured. 

EASTERN THEATRE 

After the occupation of Riga by the Germans in September, 1917, and the operations which 
led to the capture of the Dago, Ossel and Moon Islands in October, and the signing of the 
general armistice between the Bolshevists and Prince Leopold of Bavaria, on December 15th, no 
important engagements took place. Turkey and Bulgaria, as well as the Central Powers, were 
parties to this agreement, aud Rumania was obliged to concur in the suspension of hostilities, 
although she refused to enter into negotiations. The Peace of Brest-Litovsk was signed on 
March 3, 1918. 

On March 7th, 1918, Germany signed a treaty of peace with Finland, and subsequently 
German troops landed at Helsingfors ostensibly to assist the White Guards in overthrowing 
the Finnish Red Guards and to restore order in Finland. After the defeat of the Red Guards, 
the German forces continued to occupy the country and made plans for a Summer campaign 
in the north to cut off Russia from the Arctic ports. 

During the late Spring and early Summer of 1918, the Germans advanced across the 
Baltic Provinces and in the south through the Ukraine. By July 1st, the new front stretched 
from just west of Petrograd south to Orsha, thence to Kursk ; from Kursk, almost to the Volga 
at Tsaritsin, thence south to Rostov-on-the-Don. 

Allied opposition to the German penetration of Russia led to the landing of a small 
joint force at Murmansk, and in the Czecho-Slovak movement. The Czecho-Slovaks were Austro- 
German prisoners of war in Russia, who had secured their liberty, and who, after the peace of 
Brest-Litovsk, undertook to cross Russia and Siberia en route to the Allied Western Front. Al- 
though the Bolshevist Government had granted the Czecho-Slovaks permission to do this, it sub- 
sequently prevented them from leaving Russia by way of Archangel, and opposed their 
progress across Siberia. By the end of May, 1918, about 14,000 had, however, reached Vladivostok 
safely. But in July, Austro-German prisoners of war and Bolshevist forces were in control 
of the Amur line and of Karimskaya, Chita and the Trans-Siberian Railroad to the west as 
far as Lake Baikal, thus isolating the remainder of the Czecho-Slovaks who had not yet pro- 
ceeded beyond Irkutsk. At that time a few Allied cruisers were in Vladivostok Harbor but no 
troops had arrived. 

Allied intervention in Siberia was decided upon at the end of July. American and 
Japanese forces, assisted by detachments of French, British, and Chinese troops, were to be dis- 
patched to Vladivostok. The Japanese General, Otani, took over command on August 12. 
Operations were immediately commenced along the Ussuri line and to the west of Manchuria 
Station. The Czecho-Slovak troops, operating in the vicinity of Irkutsk, succeeded in driving 

10 



the enemy back from Verhknie-Udinsk and Chita, and in forming a junction with the advance 
guard of Czechs and Allied forces coming up from Vladivostok. By the end of September, 
Eastern Siberia, including the Amur line, had been cleared of the enemy, and the Trans- 
Siberian Railroad from Vladivostok to Samara was under Allied control. 

In northern Russia, at the request of the local Soviet authorities, Allied troops had also 
landed at Archangel during the latter part of August, and minor operations along the Arch- 
angel-Vologda Railroad and down the Dvina River were undertaken. The forces sent along the 
Archangel -Vologda Railroad, have reached Obozerskaya. Onega has been occupied, and Southern 
and Western Karelia cleared of the enemy. 

In the meantime, in Western European Russia, the Czech o-Slovaks had been consolidating 
their forces, and had established themselves along the line of the Volga River at Penza, 
Syzran, Samara, and Cheliabinsk. After holding the line of the Volga against greatly superior 
Austro-German and Bolshevist forces until the early Autumn, the Czecho-Slovaks withdrew to 
their present position, extending from a point 50 miles east of Kinel, the railroad junction 
of the Tashkent-Cheliabinsk line, northeast to Ufa, thence north to Krasnoi-Ufimsk and Kungur 
in the Province of Perm. 

Allied reinforcements are en route to assist the Czechs. 

BALKAN THEATRE 

After the failure of General Sarrail's offensive in the Spring of 1917, no further opera- 
tions were undertaken by the Allies until the Summer of 1918, when, during the course of 
July, Franco-Italian forces in Albania undertook a successful offensive, and advanced from 
the Voyusa and the Semeni Rivers. Berat was occupied. The Austrians were, however, able 
to check this advance and drove back the Franco-Italian units, and reoccupied Berat in August. 

In carrying out the principle of unity of command, the Allied forces in Macedonia under- 
took an offensive which was launched on September 15th. Serbs fighting in the mountain regions 
of Monastir bore the brunt of the attack during the first days of the assault. 

Soon thereafter the Italian, French, Greek and British units were sweeping northward. 
Then came the dramatic surrender of the Bulgars, and the entire outlook of the campaign 
was changed. The demobilization of the Bulgar forces made possible the rapid advance of 
the Allied armies. The Serbs, pushing rapidly forward, entered Belgrade on November 1st, and 
the entire country has been redeemed. French and British units have reached the Danube. 
The Greeks, have reoccupied all of their old frontiers. 

SYRIA-PALESTINE THEATRE 

The capture of Gaza on November 7, 1917, was the beginning of the successful campaign 
which the British were initiating in this theatre. Jerusalem surrendered on December 9th. 
After this, no important operations were undertaken for some time, though British units con- 
tinued to harass the enemy and gained the support of the Arabs. 

Simultaneously with the operations undertaken in the Balkans, an offensive was begun 
on September 19, 1918, against the Turkish forces which held the line stretching from Arsuf 
on the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea. 

The British forces were able to overwhelm the 7th and 8th Turkish Armies, and pushed 
northward with great rapidity. Damascus was entered on the night of September 30th ; Beirut 

11 



was abandoned by the Turks on October 1st. In rapid succession Tripoli, Horns and Haniah 
were occupied, and Aleppo was captured on October 26th. By the end of the month Turkey 
had agreed to the terms of the armistice proposed by the Allies. 

MESOPOTAMIAN THEATRE 

No important operations have recently been undertaken in this area. By mid-Summer, 
1918, the British found themselves in secure possession of the greater part of Mesopotamia. 
Henceforth their activities served the efficient purpose of hemming in the Turks, and contributed, 
after the victorious campaign in Syria, to force their surrender. 

EAST AFRICAN THEATRE 

At the conclusion of the campaign in German East Africa, a remnant of the hostile force 
managed to escape into Portuguese territory, where stores were captured and supplies replenished. 

This force, composed of Germans and armed natives, is being hunted down by British and 
Portuguese contingents. By the middle of March, 1918, it had been driven south of the Lurio 
River, and its main body was at Mwalia, 110 miles southwest of Port Amelia. 

The enemy after being pursued from Ociva on the Mlela River to Chalaus, 63 miles west 
of Angoche, was advancing toward Ubena, east of the Lake N3'assa region. 



12 



TERMS OF ARMISTICE 

The following are the terms of the armistice imposed upon Germany which went into 
effect at 11 a. m. November 11th, 1918. 

MILITARY CLAUSES 

Western Front 

I. Cessation of operations by land and in the air six hours after the signature of the 
armistice. 

II. Immediate evacuation of invaded countries : Belgium, France, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxem- 
burg, so ordered as to be completed within fourteen days from the signature of the armistice. 

German troops which have not left the above-mentioned territories within the period fixed 
will become prisoners of war. 

- Occupation by the Allied and United States forces jointly will keep pace with evacuation 
in these areas. 

All movements of evacuation and occupation will be regulated in accordance with a note 
(Annex One). 

III. Repatriation beginning at once to be completed within fifteen days of all the inhabitants 
of the countries above enumerated (including hostages, persons under trial or convicted). 

IV. Surrender in good condition by the German Armies of the following war material: 

5,000 guns; (2,500 heavy, 2,500 field) ; 
25,000 machine guns; 
3,000 minenwerfer; 

1,700 aeroplanes (fighters, bombers, firstly all 
of the D-7's and all the night bombing 
machines. ) 
The above to be delivered in situ to the Allied and United States troops in accordance with 
the detailed conditions laid down in the note (Annex One) drawn up at the moment of the sign- 
ing of the armistice. 

V. Evacuation by the German Armies of the countries on the left bank of the Rhine. The 
countries on the left bank of the Rhine shall be administered by the local troops of occupation. 
The occupation of these territories will be carried out by Allied and United States garrisons 
holding the principal crossings of the Rhine (Mayence, Coblentz, Cologne) together with the 
bridge-heads at these points of a thirty kilometer radius on the right bank and by garrisons 
similarly holding the strategic points of the regions. A neutral zone shall be reserved on the 
right bank of the Rhine between the stream and a line drawn parallel to the bridge-heads and 
to the stream and at a distance of ten kilometers from the frontier of Holland up to the 
frontier of Switzerland. The evacuation by the enemy of the Rhineland (left and right banki 
shall be so ordered as to be completed within further period of sixteen days, in all thirty-one 
days after the signing of the armistice. All the movements of evacuation or occupation are 
regulated by the note (Annex One) drawn up at the moment of the signing of the armistice. 

VI. In all territories evacuated by the enemy there shall be no evacuation of inhabitants; 
no damage or harm shall be done to the persons or property of the inhabitants. No person 
shall be prosecuted for offenses of participation in war measures prior to the signing of the 
armistice. No destruction of any kind shall be committed. Military establishments of all 
kinds shall be delivered intact as well as military stores of food, munitions, and equipment, 
not removed during the period fixed for evacuation. Stores of food of all kinds for the civil 
population, cattle, etc., shall be left in situ. Industrial establishments shall not be impaired 
in any way and their personnel shall not be removed. 

13 



VII. Roads and means of communication of every kind, railroads, waterways, main roads, 
bridges, telegraphs, telephones, shall be in no manner impaired. All civil and military per- 
sonnel at present employed on them shall remain: 5,000 locomotives and 150,000 wagons in 
good working order with all necessary spare parts and fittings shall be delivered to the Asso- 
ciated Powers within the period fixed in Annex Two and total of which shall not exceed 
thirty-one days. There shall likewise be delivered 5,000 motor lorries (camions automobiles) in 
good order within the period of thirty-six days. The railways of Alsace-Lorraine shall be 
handed over within the period of thirty-one days together with pre-war personnel and material. 
Further the material necessary for the working of railways in the countries on the left bank 
of the Rhine shall be left in situ. ' All stores of coal and material for the upkeep of permanent 
way, signals and repair shops shall be left in situ. These stores shall be maintained by Germany 
in so far as concerns the working of the railroads in the countries on the left bank of the 
Rhine. All barges taken from the Allies shall be restored to them. The note Annex Two regu- 
lates the details of these measures. 

VIII. The German Command shall be responsible for revealing within the period of forty- 
eight hours after the signing of the armistice all mines or delayed action fuses on territory 
evacuated by the German troops and shall assist in their discovery and destruction. It also 
shall reveal all destructive measures that may have been taken (such as poisoning or polluting 
of springs and wells, etc. ) All under penalty of reprisals. 

IX. The right of requisition shall be exercised by the Allied and United States Armies in all 
occupied territories, subject to regulation of accounts with those whom it may concern. The 
upkeep of the troops of occupation in the Rhineland (excluding Alsace-Lorraine) shall be 
charged to the German Government. 

X. The immediate repatriation, without reciprocity, according to detailed conditions which 
shall be fixed, of all Allied and United States prisoners of war, including persons under trial 
or convicted. The Allied Powers and the United States shall be able to dispose of them as 
they wish. This condition annuls the previous conventions on the subject of the exchange of 
prisoners of war including the one of July, 1918, in course of ratification. However, the re- 
patriation of German prisoners of war interned in Holland and in Switzerland shall continue 
as before. The repatriation of German prisoners of war shall be regulated at the conclusion of 
the preliminaries of peace. 

XI. Sick and wounded who cannot be removed from evacuated territory will be cared for 
by German personnel who will be left on the spot with the medical material required. 

Eastern Frontiers of Germany 

XII. All German troops at present in the territories which before belonged to Austria- 
Hungary, Rumania, Turkey, shall withdraw immediately within the frontiers of Germany as 
they existed on August 1, 1914. All German troops at present in the territories which before 
the' war belonged to Russia shall likewise withdraw within the frontiers of Germany, defined 
as above, as soon as the Allies, taking into account the internal situation of these territories, 
shall decide that the time for this has come. 

XIII. Evacuation by German troops to begin at once and all German instructors, prison- 
ers, and civilians as well as military agents, now on the territory of Russia (as defined before 
August 1, 1914) to be recalled. 

XIV. German troops to cease at once all requisitions and seizures and any other under- 
taking with a view to obtaining supplies intended for Germany in Rumania and Russia (as de- 
fined on August 1, 1914). 

XV. Renunciation of the treaties of Bucharest and Brest-Litovsk and of the supplement- 
ary treaties. 

14 



XVI. The Allies shall have free access to the territories evacuated by the Germans on 
their eastern frontier, either through Danzig, or by the Vistula, in order to convey supplies to 
the populations of those territories and for the purpose of maintaining order. 

East Africa 

XVII. Evacuation by all German forces operating in East Africa within a period to be 
fixed by the Allies. 

General Clauses 

XVIII. Repatriation, without reciprocity, within a maximum period of one month in ac- 
cordance with detailed conditions hereafter to be fixed, of all interned civilians including host- 
ages, (persons?) under trial or convicted, belonging to the Allied or Associated Powers other than 
those enumerated in article three. 

XIX. With the reservation that any future claims and demands of the Allies and the 
United States of America remain unaffected, the following financial conditions are required: 

Reparation for damage done. 

While such armistice lasts no public securities shall be removed by the enemy which can 
serve as a pledge to the Allies for the recovery or reparation for war losses. 

Immediate restitution of the cash deposit, in the National Bank of Belgium, and in general 
immediate return of all documents, specie, stock, shares, paper money together with plant for 
the issue thereof, touching public or private interests in the invaded countries. Restitution of 
the Russian and Rumanian gold yielded to Germany or taken by that power. 

This gold to be delivered in trust to the Allies until the signature of peace. 

NAVAL CLAUSES 

XX. Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and definite information to be given as to 
the location and movements of all German ships. 

Notification to be given to neutrals that freedom of navigation in all territorial waters is 
given to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers, all questions of 
neutrality being waived. 

XXI. All naval and mercantile marine prisoners of war of the Allied and Associated 
Powers in German hands to be returned without reciprocity. 

XXII. Surrender to the Allies and United States of all submarines (including submarine 
cruisers and all mine laying submarines) now existing with their complete armament and equip- 
ment in ports which shall be specified by the Allies and United States. Those which cannot, 
shall be disarmed of the personnel and material aud shall remain under the supervision of the Al- 
lies and the United States. The submarines which are ready for the sea shall be prepared to 
leave the German ports as soon as orders shall be received by wireless for their voyage to the 
port designed for their delivery, and the remainder at the earliest possible moment. The condi- 
tions of this article shall be carried into effect within a period of fourteen days after the signing 
of the armistice. 

XXIII. German surface warships which shall be designated by the Allies and the United 
States shall be immediately disarmed and thereafter interned in neutral ports or in default 
thereof, in Allied ports to be designated by the Allies and the United States. They will there 
remain under the supervision of the Allies and of the United States, only caretakers being 
left on board. The following warships are designated by the Allies : 

6 battle cruisers, 
10 battleships, 

8 light cruisers (including 2 mine layers), 
50 destroyers of the most modern types. 
All other surface warships (including river craft) are to be concentrated in German naval 
bases to be designated by the Allies and the United States and are to be completely disarmed 
and classed under the supervision of the Allies and the United States. The military arma- 
ment of all ships of the auxiliary fleet shall be put on shore. All vessels designated to be 

15 



interned shall be ready to leave the German ports seven days after the signing of the armistice. 
Directions for the voyage will be given by wireless. 

XXIV. The Allies and the United States of America shall have the right to sweep up all 
mine fields and obstructions laid by Germany outside German territorial waters, and the posi- 
tions of these are to be indicated. 

XXV. Freedom of access to and from the Baltic to be given to the naval and mercantile 
marines of the Allied and Associated Powers. To secure this the Allies and the United States of 
America shall be empowered to occupy all German forts, fortifications, batteries and defense 
works of all kinds in all the entrances from the Kattegat into the Baltic, and to sweep up all 
mines and obstructions within and without German territorial waters without any cpiestion of 
neutrality being raised, and the positions of all such mines and obstructions are to be indi- 
cated. 

XXVI. The existing blockade conditions set up by the Allied and Associated Powers are to 
remain unchanged and all German merchant ships found at sea are to remain liable to capture. 
The Allies and the United States should give consideration to the provisioning of Germany 
during the armistice to the extent recognized as necessary. 

XXVII. All naval aircraft are to be concentrated and immobilized in German bases to be 
specified by the Allies and the United States of America. 

XXVIII. In evacuating the Belgian coast and ports Germany shall abandon in stiu and in 
fact all port and river navigation material, all merchant ships, tugs, lighters, all naval aero- 
nautic apparatus, material and supplies, and all arms, apparatus and supplies of every kind. 

XXIX. All Black Sea ports are to be evacuated by Germany; all Russian war vessels of all 
descriptions seized by Germany in the Black Sea are to be handed over to the Allies and the 
United States of America; all neutral merchant vessels seized are to be released; all warlike 
and other materials of all kinds seized in those ports are to be returned and German materials 
as specified in clause XXVIII are to be abandoned. 

XXX. All merchant vessels in German hands belonging to the Allied and Associated Pow- 
ers are to be restored in ports to be specified by the Allies and the United States of America with- 
out reciprocity. 

XXXI. No destruction of ships or of materials is to be permitted before evacuation, sur- 
render or restoration. 

XXXII. The German Government shall formally notify the neutral Governments of the 
world, and particularly the Governments of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Holland, that all 
restrictions placed on the trading of their vessels with the Allied and Associated Countries, 
whether by the German Government or by private German interests, and whether in return for 
specific concessions such as the export of shipbuilding materials or not, are immediately can- 
celed. 

XXXIII. No transfers of German merchant shipping of any description to any neutral flag 
are to take place after signature of the armistice. 

Duration of Armistice 

XXXIV". The duration of the armistice is to be thirty days with option to extend. Daring 
this period if its clauses are not carried into execution the armistice may be denounced by one of 
the contracting parties which must give, warning forty-eight hours in advance. It is understood 
that the execution of articles III and XVIII shall not warrant the denunciation of the armis- 
tice on the ground of insufficient execution within a period fixed, except in the case of bad faith 
in carrying them into execution. In order to assure the execution of this convention under the 
best conditions the principle of a permanent International Armistice Commission is admitted. 
This Commission will act under the authority of the Allied Military and Naval Commanders in 
Chief. 

This armistice was signed on November 11, 1918 at 5 A. M. (F. Foch, R. E. Wemyss, 
Erzberger, A. Oberndorff, Winterfeldt, Von Salow). 

16 




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